While there are many different holidays and observances this month, there is one that is most near and dear to my heart.  March is Women's History Month.  This month, we celebrate achievements made by women in United States history.  Not to be out done, I thought I would put a Becky in Black spin on things.  Let's celebrate the achievements of women, specifically in rock music.  Women who have come and gone(some too soon), paved the way, and continue to do so right alongside their male counterparts.  There are so many amazing women in rock, it would be impossible to mention them all, so I have chosen a few that have made an impact in my life.

Paving The Way- Of course, I can't write anything about women in rock without mentioning Janis Joplin.  I doubt anyone would argue that she was instrumental in giving women a name in the genre.  I also want to give a shout out to Stevie Nicks, one of my all-time favorite singers.  Whether she was singing and swaying around the stage with Fleetwood Mac, or mesmerizing all the men-folk during her solo career, Nicks certainly danced to the beat of her own drum. Rumours, anyone? How many people can write songs telling their partners IN THE SAME BAND to essentially f-off?!? Its a masterpiece.

Carrying on Tradition-   After the stage was set, women were much more prevalent in rock music, and not just in male-dominated bands.  Pat Benatar and Joan Jett led the charge, fronting their own bands, and the Wilson sisters(Ann and Nancy) headed up the chart topping HeartDuring the 90's we saw artists like Gwen Stefani front the ever popular No Doubtbefore becoming a household name on her own.  Alanis Morisette's Jagged Little Pill is still, in my opinion, the quintessential female anthem of all time.

History in the Making- The last decade or so has brought so many different types of rock and metal into the forefront for the women of the industry.  Women like Lzzy Hale  and Maria Brink continue to lead the charge in Halestorm and In This Moment, as they have been since near the turn of the century, but they have some competition.  Taylor Momsen, of The Pretty Reckless, currently holds the #1 spot for album sales in the country!  Add to that the surge of females that can scream and growl with the likes of David Draiman, and Corey Taylor.  Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox, as well as Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey of Butcher Babies are giving the boys a run for their money.

So, what does the future hold for women in the rock music industry?  Will we be able to keep up the momentum and really make a name for females in a mostly male dominated genre?  I think we can.  We have already come so far in a pretty short length of time.  There is plenty of room for everyone at the top.  Thanks to all the amazing women who came before us, we know who we are, and we are no longer afraid to show that to the world.  I, for one, can't wait to see what's next.

This Couples Only Getaway Is Two And A Half Hours From The Quad Cities

 

 

More From I-Rock 93.5